The 2026 International Invitational Tournament will be held at the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Oriental Sports Center, where the world's top Dota teams will gather in Shanghai for a

The International (TI) is returning to China in 2026, where top Dota teams from around the world will gather in Shanghai in a few months to compete for the Aegis of Champions, the symbol of ultimate honor. With the official team invitation list now released, Valve has also confirmed ticket sales for this year's TI, inviting players worldwide to the event and witness this annual Dota pinnacle.  

The main event of This International will be held from August 20th to 23rd, 2026 at the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Oriental Sports Center. Top teams from around the world will compete fiercely amidst the cheers of thousands of spectators, making Shanghai once again the focus of attention for Dota players worldwide.  

According to the official announcement, this year's tickets will be divided into two types: "single-day tickets" and "two-day passes." Single-day tickets can be purchased for a specific match day, while two-day passes cover the match schedules for Thursday/Friday and Saturday/Sunday respectively. Unlike previous years, all tickets for this year's TI will be assigned seating; regular admission tickets will no longer be available, in order to further enhance the on-site viewing experience.  

Tickets will officially go on sale at 2 PM Beijing time on June 10, 2026. The official website will offer two different ticketing channels: one for domestic Chinese audiences and one for international audiences, to meet the ticketing needs of fans in different regions.  

For players within China, tickets can be purchased through Damai.cn or the Perfect World App. A Chinese ID document is required for purchase. Priority ticket purchase for active Chinese players will take place from 2:00 PM to 2:20 PM Beijing time on June 10th, limited to Chinese players who have completed at least 10 Dota matches in the past six months. Players wishing to participate in the priority purchase must complete account verification by June 3rd, 2026. After 2:30 PM, tickets for the Chinese region will officially go on sale to all players.  

International viewers can purchase tickets through Ctrip, with sales starting at 2:30 PM Beijing time on June 10th. With TI returning to Shanghai, the eyes of Dota players worldwide will once again be focused on the Chinese arena. From the electrifying atmosphere of the live event to the epic battles centered around the Aegis of Champions, The International 2026 is destined to be one of the most anticipated esports events of the year.  

Image source: Internet/Dota 2 official website